HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS CME ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My File Cabinet Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Glueck, C. J. Articles by Morrison, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Glueck, C. J. Articles by Morrison, J. A. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Children: Recognition, Evaluation, and Therapy

PEDIATRIC GENESIS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Atherosclerosis results from a variety of pathophysiologic disturbances, some currently recognized, and many undoubtedly not yet recognized, which in aggregate are identified as risk factors. Genetic and environmental influences conjointly affect the incidence and the severity of these risk factors and, thus, coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Prophylaxis should be designed to prevent or retard the development of arterial plaques. This suggests that diagnostic and preventive efforts should begin in childhood. Eating habits are also probably established in childhood, allowing their early modification.

The atherosclerotic plaque appears to have its genesis in childhood. The data from wartime autopsies confirm the presence of mature atherosclerotic lesions by the end of the second decade and emphasize the importance of primary atherosclerosis prevention beginning in the first and second decades.

While there are clearly genetic factors in CHD, variation in rates in differing geographic areas appears less likely to be related to genetic than to environmental differences. Marked differences in plasma cholesterol levels are found in children in different geographic areas, generally paralleling pediatric cholesterol and saturated fat intake and the incidence of adult coronary heart disease. The relationships of elevated total plasma cholesterol levels to the incidence of coronary heart disease are clearly established in adults.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Kaistha, R. J. Deckelbaum, T. J. Starc, and S. C. Couch Overrestriction of Dietary Fat Intake Before Formal Nutritional Counseling in Children With Hyperlipidemia Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, November 1, 2001; 155(11): 1225 - 1230. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Copperman, J. Schebendach, M. R. Arden, and M. S. Jacobson Nutrient Quality of Fat- and Cholesterol-Modified Diets of Children With Hyperlipidemia Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, March 1, 1995; 149(3): 333 - 336. [Abstract] [PDF]